We've been talking about "the group plan" at school recently. The term "the group plan" is taken from Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking Curriculum. You can learn more about that program here: www.socialthinking.com/
A group is made up of 2 or more people. When you have a conversation with a friend, you are in a group. When you are listening to a story in the classroom, you are with a group. When you are marching in a parade, you are with a group. The group plan is whatever plan the group is following. So if two friends are talking about their favorite snack, the group plan is to talk about food. If the class is listening to a story... you get the idea. When we follow the group plan, it makes things easier for everyone in the group. When we don't follow the group plan, it can make people confused or uncomfortable. If my friend is talking about goldfish crackers and I start listing facts about volcanoes, my friend will be confused and think I'm not listening. If my class is reading a story and I stand up to go play with dinosaurs (my own plan), the rest of the class will be confused and the learning will stop while the teacher works to bring me back to the group plan. At home, you can use the group plan to help your child stop and notice clues. "Look at what I am doing - what is the group plan?" The answer might be sitting down to dinner, cleaning up toys, getting socks and shoes on to get out the door, etc. "I know you want to play but right now we need to follow the group plan. The group plan is to get ready to go!" Sometimes we all need reminders to follow the group plan! As kids get older, it can be helpful to remind them that we follow group plans when they are safe and expected. We don't want kids to confuse the group plan with negative peer pressure.
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AuthorMiss Nicole is the Social Worker for the Early Childhood Program in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Categories
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May 2020
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